Campione! - Volume 19 - Chapter 4.6

Part 6 

Erica and Lu Yinghua who were in confrontation on a building’s rooftop. 

Both of them were repeating fierce exchanges in a situation that was alternatively progressing back and forth. 

「That weapon, it seems to have a considerable benefit eh!」 

「Yeah! If I remember right they said it’s thunder law of evil extermination and demon purification or something? Anyway, looks like such power of name is crammed plenty in this just so you know!」 

For a test, Erica scattered a handful of metallic powder that she summoned using magic to the air―― 

The dusts that were filling the area around Lu Yinghua were catching『white heat』without a moment’s delay. It was a magic that rapidly increased the metal’s temperature. A light flashed, and using the countless metallic dusts that reached the temperature of 1500 degree which equaled the temperature of a smelting furnace, the wonder child of martial world was burn to death altogether with the surrounding air――. 

That was how it was supposed to go. 

*hyun hyun hyun hyun hyun!* 

When the nine joint whip in question was swung, the heated metallic dusts were returned to normal powder! 

Lu Yinghua grinned broadly, not troubled at all by the powdery air. 

「This is more or less my family’s cherished treasure, seems that it is called Raihouben or something.」(TN: Raihouben=Thunder Law Whip) 

「In other words, you want to say that my magic is sealed by that?」 

「Correct answer!」 

This time Lu Yinghua twisted the nine joint whip with a slight snap of his wrist. 

However, it didn’t hit Erica. The Raihouben was tossed slowly. It didn’t even have enough force in its motion. 

It was like someone tossing an apple or orange to a friend. That was why Erica was taken by surprise. 

Erica predicted that it would be a sure kill attack that was fast and peerless. 

「!?」 

Just like paper streamer that was thrown when a ship sailed out, the metallic stick that was divided into nine joints hit Erica’s shoulder and chest, *kashan* the whip raised such sound before falling down. 

There shouldn’t be any wound from that. But, Erica was astonished. 

「What the!?」 

The Raihouben that hit her body erased magic from her flesh body. 

By nature Erica was specialized in alchemy that manipulated iron and reinforcement magic. Even Liliana couldn’t catch up to her in those fields by far. She put『body reinforcement』in her own body that drastically increased her physical ability. She also put『self-protection』that reduced damage. 

However, those magic――were erased from Erica’s body. 

She felt her beloved sword of lion, Cuore de Lione to be heavier than usual, that discomfort spontaneously caused Erica to be astonished. 

It was at that timing Lu Yinghua wasted no time to thrust straight at Erica’s throat with his right hand forming blade shape! 

「Hahahaha! You are full of opening you know, Nee-san!?」 

「Unthinkable. I and this child――don’t take us lightly!」 

Erica somehow swung her neck to the side and barely evaded the thrust. 

Lu Yinghua’s pinky grazed her slightly, producing a straight horizontal laceration on Erica’s white neck. If she remembered correctly it was the technique of『Phoenix Claw Stealing Heart 』of Phoenix Twelve Divine Palm, its power was just as could be expected from it. 

But, Erica who dodged that commanded, toward the magic sword Cuore de Lione. 

「O sword of the lion king, reveal your true form――burn in fury!」 

Erica’s beloved weapon had the external appearance of a『 slender sword』. 

However, that was its temporary appearance. For the sake of her training, Erica transformed the sword from its original appearance that was a magic sword of the lion king, a very long big sword into a slender one. When she became able to launch fierce and heavy slash and thrust even with this kind of feeble weapon, that was exactly the time she was a true swordsman. 

Right now, she released that seal and returned Cuore de Lione into a large sword. 

It was a wide broad sword(one handed sword). It changed into appearance, thickness, and length that were worthy for the inscription of lion. 

「What!?」 

Lu Yinghua was unusually surprised. 

Erica whose physical strength had dropped was making her weapon heavier. Surely that was unexpected. Furthermore, aiming to attack the personal pupil of the magic sect founder at his unguarded moment, the magic sword of lion attacked! 

「Waa――!? What the hell, is that!?」 

「Fufufufu! Please receive it, the fang of angry lion!」 

The sturdy sword Cuore de Lione was――dragging along 

Erica’s right arm while piercing its tips toward Lu Yinghua. Even when the young chivalrous martial artist dodged that, the same thrust was continuously launched for the second, third, fourth time. It was like a lion biting on its prey. 

Erica wasn’t controlling the sword. 

The magic sword was moving by its own will, trying to kill Lu Yinghua. 

And then, what transformed the magic sword into『golem shaped into sword』, was the result of its master, Erica’s alchemy. 

The lion that was shaped into sword attacked Lu Yinghua with sweeping slash this time. 

Immediately following, before the blade of the magic sword hit――the wonder child dropped to the ground. 

「Shit-. As expected of Nee-san, what a female fox!」 

He wasn’t slashed, he dropped to the ground by himself before he got cut. 

With his back on the ground, his posture facing up――Lu 

Yinghua spun a rotation like a pinwheel, with that force he launched a spinning kick with his left foot! Aiming at the right hand of Erica that was holding the sword! 

「!?」 

Erica quickly kicked on the ground and jumped backward together with her beloved sword. 

Surely that kind of movement would be impossible if she was moving the sword by herself. Thanks to this jump the kick that Lu Yinghua sent while lying down hit empty air and Erica’s hand ended up unhurt. 

However, the attack from the ground didn’t end. 

Lu Yinghua was still lying down facing up. He made his back as axis and like a pinwheel he started rotating repeatedly in high speed more than before. In addition, while lying down and rotating, he unleashed the second, third, fourth, fifth kick without end! 

This time too Erica could do nothing but jumping backward. 

It would be unbearable to receive pursuit, so she jumped in a big way more than five meters backwards. 

Seeing that she was able to escape to a spot that his foot couldn’t reach, finally Lu Yinghua stopped imitating pinwheel and stood up slowly. 

「It has been a long time since I was forced to do Running Dog Fist.」 

The rare child prodigy grinned broadly in amusement. 

What was fitting for the young man who was learning from the queen Luo Cuilian was surely technique of flying phoenix – ascending dragon that aimed for the sky. 

In spite of that, he splendidly displayed his use of sharp eccentric martial art crawling on the ground. It was also resembling the martial arts of Brazil, the capoeira. 

But, Erica recalled that it was a different martial arts. 

「If I remember correctly, in China there is a martial art where the user pretend to be drunk and fight while lying down isn’t it?」 

「Aa, the Drunken Fist huh. I’m a minor so master didn’t teach me that. A person like Nee-san who is outside the martial world might find it easier to call it “Dog Fist”. Well, its appearance is a bit bad, but together with Drunken Fist they are really useful.」 Lu Yinghua boasted. 

The movement of dropping himself to the ground was showy, but there was many opening in doing that. It wasn’t something that could be used lightly in an evenly matched offense and defense. Those techniques were something to be used at the risk of one’s life, when launching a counterattack to recover from a hopeless situation. For example in a situation like fighting an armed opponent barehanded. 

Evading the slash of sword or katana by bending down to the ground, and from there counterattacked with kick or something else. 

The concept of Drunken Fist and Dog Fist also came from there. 

As expected, the Lu Yinghua today was different from usual. He unleashed even a secret fist that he himself called as『dog』 without hesitation. That meant, by any chance―― 

「Well, in any case you are not an opponent that can be overcame that easily……. Like this I can only count on Liliana to back up Godou and protect Madam Aisha.」 

However, her chest felt uneasy. If her prediction was correct. 

Right now her friend and rival should be in an even more danger than Erica. 

In front of an opponent of higher rank, Sir Iceman. 

Liliana Krancjar was cornered into overwhelmingly inferior position. 

Her beloved magic sword Il Maestro already had its seal released, a long handle had been added to the saber shaped blade, returning it into the form of naginata. 

With that handle, she earnestly tried to block the “iron bludgeon” that Iceman swung. 

In addition as a holy knight in possession of『Sacred Privilege of Extermination』, she circulated all of that grace into her body protection, making her body clad in personal barrier of self-protection. 

Yet despite so. 

「Kuh……!」 

She was blown away just like a billiard ball that was hit by a cue. 

Liliana’s dainty body flew for six, seven meter midair, her back was then crashed fiercely into the building’s wall. Blood spewed out from her mouth. 

If she didn’t have the sacred protection, her internal organs might burst and she would die instantly. 

「Oo. It has been really a long time since I cannot decided the fight with one attack. It seems you has trained hard huh, Krancjar-kun.」 

On the other hand, Sir Iceman was praising Liliana happily. 

He even narrowed his eyes smilingly. It was the face of a man of character that was happy with the rise of his junior knight. However, the arms that was carried with both hands of such him was the very definition of brutal. With a pole made from evergreen oak 1.5 meter long, it was attached with「iron weight in quadrangular prism shape」. 

Just the weight at the end of the pole, had the same size with the head of a grown man――. 

That weapon was called as『mace』. Even the knight of middle age often used the same weapon. However, most was something smaller than this. 

It was a weapon for the sake of striking and winning against a knight that was clad in full iron armor that deflected sword. 

Even metal plate that couldn’t be cut using blade could be crushed using steel weight. The flesh body inside would also get crushed, in addition it could also injure internal organs using it’s impact. It was lacking in elegance but it was a boorishly terrifying weapon. It was that kind of weapon. 

Furthermore―― 

Iceman was pouring the『Sacred Privilege of Extermination』 into this heavy mace! 

「Well then, I wonder how you will fare against the second strike?」 

He approached the collapsed Liliana with brisk pace and swung his mace with both hands. 

Iceman’s second strike was closer to a golf strike rather than martial art. It was a beating to scoop up a target that was lying down on ground. 

Liliana was once again only protecting her body with the naginata’s handle and barrier. 

It would be the end if her sacred protection weakened even if only slightly, 

「Gu――kuuh!」 

This time too she was splendidly blown away by more than 10 meters. 

However, it was the second strike. In the middle she twirled like a dragonfly and landed on the ground. It was the obstinacy of Liliana Krancjar that was known for the lightness of her body movement that was like a fairy. 

She glared at Iceman severely. 

The legendary holy knight that was born in Holland nodded at her with affectionate smile. 

He seemed happy from the bottom of his heart at Liliana’s hard struggle. Even though he had no intention at all to hold back at his third strike no matter what. 

「So the story that he is specialized in offensive to a ridiculous degree is true……」 Liliana murmured. 

The uncle of Erica who was considered as his worthy rival, Paolo Blandelli used shield, a warrior that put importance of defense instead, but Sir Iceman was said to be the opposite of him. However, 『The Man of Ice』was endowed with offensive power that enabled him to persist in that path. 

「It will be great if Erica can be the one to go rescuing Madam Aisha like this.」 

Liliana murmured secretly. 

Ending this confrontation against Iceman quickly with result other than defeat――was impossible. Realizing that fact, Liliana betted her hope toward her sword friend the Diavolo Rosso. 

(――san. ――san-. Liliana-san!) 

(Mariya Yuri!?) 

Liliana was surprised hearing a whisper in her ear. 

The companion who was protecting the faction of Kusanagi Godou from the realm of the dead, Mariya Yuri was sending telepathy to her. 

(Yes. Erica-san also has no leeway, so I think path of survival other than defeating Sir Iceman here is――) 

(It might not exist is it……) 

She communicated with Mariya Yuri using spiritual power of telepathy. 

Liliana was a witch. Her senses were far sharper compared to average magician. 

In the same manner how Kusanagi Godou received the telepathy of Yuri using Campione’s super senses, actually such thing was also possible for Liliana. Perhaps this would be impossible for Erica. 

(Then, there is no other way other than doing something about this by my own strength. Can I rely on you for help!?) 

(Please leave it to me!) 

The moment the briefing session with telepathy was over, Iceman came forward. 

He lightly closed the distance all of a sudden and made a full swing with his large mace. To say it in sword expression, he was launching an attack from overhead position straight downward like splitting a chopstick. 

If she got hit with that there would be only death. It was at that moment. 

Liliana let out power of words. 

「Kamimusubi, Takamimusubi, Ikumusubi, Tarmusubi, Oomiya no Hime, Oomiketsu no Kami, Kotoshironushi, I offer my prayer to the gods. Respond to the appeasement of  the medium and calm the deceased spirit, please reveal the tranquility……!」(TN: Those seven names are god names in Japanese Mythology.) 

「Muh!?」 

It was slight but――today, the man of ice showed his shock for the first time. 

As expected. He understood. The words of power that Liliana spun didn’t come from Europe, but something of Japan’s princess shrine maiden. 

White radiance was emitted further from the blue light of sacred protection Liliana was clad with. 

This was exactly the bright light of『Spirit Pacification』. 

The secret ceremony that Mariya Yuri used at the attack of goddess Circe and also other cases. It appeased the highly strung mystical force with heart of calm, and calmed down even divine power of sacred beast class――. 

The new white light of defense gently blocked the super heavy class blow that was swung at her like lightning, neutralizing the force beautifully! 

「This is, it can soak up even a blow of sacred slaughter!?」 

「Calming spirits that is what Japan’s princess shrine maiden possesses――it’s such thing, Sir Iceman!」 

It was sent to her by Mariya Yuri in the realm of the dead using spiritual power of telepathy. 

Liliana was a witch with strong spiritual sight, actually she was a female practitioner that was connected to the same genealogy with Japan’s princess shrine maiden. For that reason she was able to align her soul in high level and given this secret ceremony. 

That meant that she was leaving her protection to the other person completely―― 

「And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; took all the women of Midian captives……and their little ones! And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire!」 

Biding her time, Liliana chanted one of holy knight’s words of power. 

With the sacred privilege of exterminator, she commanded『 confinement』at Iceman. Thirteen rose vines suddenly grew from the asphalt in ground, entangling the four limbs and the torso of the man of ice over and over again, sealing his freedom to move completely. 

She left her defense to Yuri and poured all her strength to these words of power. That was exactly the reason of this most spectacular victory. 

What was left was―― 「O wings of Artemis!」 

Chanting the words of power of flight magic, Liliana flew away. 

She rushed on the sky of dusk while being enveloped in blue light, flying away with that speed. She intended to first take position on a high ground somewhere to chase after the whereabouts of Madam Aisha and Prince Alec. 

「Do you understand what is the situation with Kusanagi Godou?」 

There was no answer. Liliana noticed with a start. 

Yuri was sending her the spiritual power of Spirit Pacification that spanned over worlds, from the realm of the dead to this world. Surely the burden of doing that was large, that Mariya Yuri had used up her strength. She already couldn’t do “cunning deed” like just now anymore. 

Bracing herself, Liliana continued her flight――. 

And then, seeing off the flying away blue light. 

「She got me. I’ll recognize this Kranjcar. This is my defeat.」 Iceman said that with just a little vexation. 

Thirteen vines were restricting his body, it would take a little bit of time to erase all of it. 

This commandment was also sealing Iceman’s magic. If he didn’t store his magical power a bit first, then his removal technique wouldn’t affect the restrain well. 

Well, he guessed that it was also fine to take a rest here. 

「The vulgar quarrel of Campiones――no, affected by their overly rash rampage, perhaps even us their followers are also getting heated.」 

The current state of the battle was still within the opening stage of the civil war, the middle stage would just begin to start. 

It couldn’t be said as the situation where he ought to make frantic efforts. Thinking of the future of the Campiones with the black prince Alec at the forefront of his mind, Iceman lightly shrugged his shoulders.